Grise's Interactive Law School Orientation, Academic Success, and Well-Being Modules: Introduction to Critical Reading
Description
Critical reading is an essential skill for law school success. However, reading cases is a new experience for all incoming law students. This five-lesson module focuses on reading individual cases and introduces eight critical reading strategies used by high-performing law students. There is a demonstration of each strategy and an opportunity to practice the strategy. The module also provides the opportunity to reflect and compile a list of reading strategies that work for you.
Lesson One, Finding Rules, examines Strategy #1, understanding that the purpose for reading cases is to find rules that can be used to solve legal problems. The lesson demonstrates how our purpose for reading impacts what we pay attention to as we read. You will practice this strategy with a scenario and a case.
Lesson Two, Reading Actively with Focus, introduces Strategy #2, reading actively as an advocate, and Strategy #3, reading with focus. You will practice being an advocate. The lesson also explores ways to read with focus, so you can be efficient and productive.
Lesson Three, Case Structure, Context, and Skimming for an Overview, explains Strategy #4, the structure of cases, so that you can more easily locate key sections of cases. This lesson also examines Strategy #5, using context, a powerful comprehension strategy, which involves reading titles and headings. The lesson ends with Strategy #6, skimming for an overview before going back to read more carefully.
Lesson Four, Reading Facts, explores Strategy #7, techniques for reading the facts in cases. You learn the importance of the facts in cases and the difference between facts, opinions, and arguments.
Lesson Five, Taking Notes and Preparing Case Briefs, examines Strategy #8, case briefs. This lesson first demonstrates how to take notes and brief a case and then you prepare your own case brief.
Taken together, this module equips you to read cases and be prepared for the first weeks and months of law school, so you can successfully tackle your case reading assignments.
Lesson One, Finding Rules, examines Strategy #1, understanding that the purpose for reading cases is to find rules that can be used to solve legal problems. The lesson demonstrates how our purpose for reading impacts what we pay attention to as we read. You will practice this strategy with a scenario and a case.
Lesson Two, Reading Actively with Focus, introduces Strategy #2, reading actively as an advocate, and Strategy #3, reading with focus. You will practice being an advocate. The lesson also explores ways to read with focus, so you can be efficient and productive.
Lesson Three, Case Structure, Context, and Skimming for an Overview, explains Strategy #4, the structure of cases, so that you can more easily locate key sections of cases. This lesson also examines Strategy #5, using context, a powerful comprehension strategy, which involves reading titles and headings. The lesson ends with Strategy #6, skimming for an overview before going back to read more carefully.
Lesson Four, Reading Facts, explores Strategy #7, techniques for reading the facts in cases. You learn the importance of the facts in cases and the difference between facts, opinions, and arguments.
Lesson Five, Taking Notes and Preparing Case Briefs, examines Strategy #8, case briefs. This lesson first demonstrates how to take notes and brief a case and then you prepare your own case brief.
Taken together, this module equips you to read cases and be prepared for the first weeks and months of law school, so you can successfully tackle your case reading assignments.